Resources aligned with the “Saving” standard from the National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education.
Saving means setting aside part of your income for emergencies and future purchases. Money you’ll need soon usually sits in low-risk, insured bank accounts, where interest helps your savings grow faster through compounding.
FAFSA isn’t simply about determining whether you qualify for a federal grant. Colleges can also use FAFSA information when determining financial aid, and eligibility depends on more than just household income. In this infographic, I explain the FAFSA process from start to finish, including what information you’ll need, the Student Aid Index, federal aid, college …
Interactive Learning Experience: The Bucket Sorter Your savings arrive as a pile of chips, and three buckets are waiting: checking for bills, high yield savings for emergencies, and index funds for everything past that. Drag the chips wherever you think they belong. Put too little in savings and the app shows what an emergency would …
If you’re starting to take control of your finances, one of the first questions you may have is: Where should I keep my savings? High-yield savings accounts have become increasingly popular, but there’s more to choosing one than simply finding the highest advertised rate. Here, I break down what HYSAs are, how APY works, what …
What could $150 a month become over several decades? The answer is a great illustration of why compound interest is such a powerful concept in personal finance. But there’s more to compounding than watching an investment balance grow. Time, contributions, returns, and even debt can all interact in ways that many people don’t fully appreciate. …
When people compare a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA, they often focus on one thing: “Which one gives me the bigger tax break?” But that’s only part of the story. The account you choose can affect your taxes today, your retirement income, and even how much of your Social Security may be taxable later. Here’s …
Interactive Learning Experience: The Bare-Bones Builder Every monthly expense starts in one pile at the top. Drag each one into Survival or Nice-to-have (editing the amounts to match your own life if you want), and two emergency fund targets grow side by side. One is the number most people calculate from their whole budget, and …
Life has a way of throwing unexpected expenses at us: a car repair, a medical bill, or even the loss of a paycheck. The question isn’t whether surprises will happen. It’s whether your finances are prepared when they do. Here, I explain what an emergency fund is, how to decide how much you really need, …
A new government-backed investment account is now available for many children, starting with a $1,000 contribution. At first glance, it sounds like an easy win for families. But as with many financial products, the details matter. Here, I explain who qualifies for a Trump Account, how the account works, tax rules that many parents don’t …
There’s no shortage of investing advice online: Buy index funds, invest early, stay consistent. But very few people talk about when each financial decision should come first. Getting the sequence right can be just as important as choosing the right investments. Here, I share a practical roadmap inspired by concepts I learned while preparing for …
One of the best employee benefits available is also one of the most misunderstood. Many people know they should contribute to a 401k, but very few understand all the rules that determine how much free money they receive – and whether they actually get to keep it. Missing one small detail could have consequences years …
